xxxvi THE LIFE OF HARVEY. 



sident and fellows, and made over to them, on the spot, his 

 whole interest in the structure. 



Dr. Prujean, the president of the college, going out of 

 office, as usual, at Michaelmas the next year (1654), Harvey 

 was unanimously chosen to fill the vacant chair. Having been 

 absent when the election took place, a deputation proceeded to 

 his apartments to apprize him of the honour his colleagues had 

 done themselves and him, and to say that they awaited his 

 answer on the following day. Every act of Harvey's public life 

 that has come down to us is marked not merely by propriety but 

 by grace. He attended the comitia or assembly of the college 

 next day ; thanked his colleagues for the distinguished honour 

 of which they had thought him worthy the honour, as he 

 said, of filling the foremost place among the physicians of 

 England; but the concerns of the college, he proceeded, 

 were too weighty to be intrusted to one like him, laden with 

 years and infirm in health ; and if he might be acquitted of 

 arrogance in presuming to give advice in such circumstances, 

 he would say that the college could not do better than rein- 

 state in the authority which he had but just laid down, 

 their late president, Dr. Prujean, under whose prudent ma- 

 nagement and fostering care the affairs of the college had 

 greatly prospered. This noble counsel had fitting response : 

 Harvey's advice being adopted by general consent, Dr. Prujean 

 was forthwith re-elected president. 



The College of Physicians were justly proud of their great 

 associate, and Harvey, in his turn, was undoubtedly attached 

 to the college. Here, indeed, as their lecturer on anatomy and 

 surgery, he had first propounded the views which had won him 

 such distinguished credit in his life, and which have left his 

 name as a deathless word on the lips of men ; here he con- 

 sorted with his nearest and dearest friends, receiving from all 

 those remarks of respectful consideration that were so justly 

 his due ; and here, in fine, the first place among the first men 



